# Gandhi and Shastri Jayanti: PM Modi Pays Floral Tributes at Rajghat, Month-Long Cleanliness Drive Begins

> Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rajghat and Vijay Ghat to honor Mahatma Gandhi on his 157th birth anniversary and Lal Bahadur Shastri on his 122nd, as a nationwide 30-day sanitation campaign commenced.

**Type:** article · **Category:** India · **Published:** 2026-10-02 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/national/gandhi-aura-shastri-jayanti-pm-modi-ne-rajghat-aura-vijay-ghat-para-arpita-kie-shraddha-sumana-shuru-hua-mahine-bhara-ka-svachchha-41614 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Gandhi Jayanti, Lal Bahadur Shastri Jayanti, Narendra Modi, Rajghat, Swachhata Abhiyan, G Kishan Reddy, Nitin Gadkari, Yogi Adityanath

Commemorations marking the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi alongside the 122nd birth anniversary of Lal Bahadur Shastri took place across India on Friday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi traveled to Rajghat in New Delhi during the early hours to lay floral wreaths at the memorial of the Father of the Nation. The occasion, which is also celebrated worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence, witnessed solemn ceremonies recalling the enduring tenets of truth and peace. Soon after honoring Gandhi, the Prime Minister visited Vijay Ghat to offer his respects to former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, commemorating his lifelong integrity and dedicated service to the republic.

## Memorial Tributes at Rajghat and Vijay Ghat
A continuous stream of dignitaries and citizens gathered at Rajghat from the early morning hours to pay homage to the principles championed by Mahatma Gandhi. At the memorial, prayers were offered while leaders reflected on how Gandhi's emphasis on communal harmony and non-violent resolution remains fundamental to governance and society. Simultaneously, solemn ceremonies took place at Vijay Ghat to mark the anniversary of Shastri, who was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh. Remembering his extraordinary humility, moral fortitude, and leadership during testing historical times, representatives across the political spectrum and members of the public joined together to celebrate the legacies left by both leaders.

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## Commencement of a Thirty-Day National Cleanliness Campaign
Aligning the commemorations with civic duty and community participation, Union Minister of Coal and Mines G Kishan Reddy called for a comprehensive 30-day nationwide sanitation drive starting on Gandhi Jayanti. Scheduled to run from October 2 through October 31, the public campaign will conclude on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

The minister urged widespread public involvement to ensure the sanitation effort functions as a collective community initiative. In addition to individual citizens, government departments and commercial enterprises were called upon to participate actively. Educational establishments and non-governmental organisations were also requested to join hands in promoting grassroots cleanliness, recycling efforts, and community hygiene across towns and rural areas over the month-long schedule.

## Ministers and State Leaders Reaffirm Core Principles
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari reflected on Gandhi's teachings, emphasizing that the Mahatma's life provides an enduring blueprint for global peace and mutual respect. He also noted that Gandhi's concepts of Swadeshi and self-governance serve as guiding lights for self-reliance and sustainable local development.

Tributes also poured in from state leadership across India. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath honored the Father of the Nation, calling his adherence to truth and non-violence an essential guide for contemporary society. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi as well, remarking that Gandhian ideals of truth and non-violence remain profoundly relevant today. Across numerous regions, morning processions, symposia, and public cleanliness events marked the joint anniversaries, renewing a collective pledge toward moral integrity and civic responsibility.

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## What this means for you
The announcement of a 30-day nationwide cleanliness drive alongside national commemorations introduces structured civic sanitation efforts across Indian institutions.

- **Across India:** Running from October 2 to October 31, the drive mandates active cleaning and civic participation across government and corporate offices. Citizens, educational bodies, and non-profits are invited to take part in organized community cleaning activities.
- **In Delhi:** Memorial zones at Rajghat and Vijay Ghat saw tight protocols alongside civic maintenance operations. Educational and municipal centers across the capital will host cleanliness workshops and public drives throughout the month.
- **In Uttar Pradesh:** Memorial events in Mughalsarai and statewide urban centers will anchor municipal sanitation programs. Local civic bodies will emphasize neighborhood waste clearing up through October 31.
- **For students and institutions:** Educational campuses and civic groups are tasked with carrying out dedicated service activities. Participants will take part in on-ground cleanliness campaigns and awareness drives over the four-week period.

## Why this happened
This nationwide observance takes place annually on October 2 to honor the foundational leadership and moral legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri.

- **Historical Anniversaries:** The date marks the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 122nd anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. National leaders gather at memorial grounds to acknowledge their historic roles in India's independence and governance.
- **Global Non-Violence Observance:** The United Nations observes October 2 as the International Day of Non-Violence in tribute to Gandhi. Consequently, state ceremonies focus heavily on reinforcing the principles of peace, truth, and civil harmony.
- **Civic Focus on Sanitation:** Cleanliness was a core tenet of Mahatma Gandhi's personal philosophy and public activism. Honoring that commitment, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy launched the targeted national drive extending until the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on October 31.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Which two prominent Indian leaders are commemorated on October 2?
October 2 marks the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 122nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.

### 2. Which memorials did Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to offer tributes?
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rajghat to honor Mahatma Gandhi and Vijay Ghat to pay respects to Lal Bahadur Shastri in New Delhi.

### 3. What nationwide initiative was launched on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti?
Union Minister G Kishan Reddy launched a 30-day nationwide cleanliness campaign extending through October 31.

### 4. When and where was Lal Bahadur Shastri born?
Lal Bahadur Shastri was born on October 2, 1904, in Mughalsarai, Uttar Pradesh.

### 5. How is Gandhi Jayanti recognized internationally?
Gandhi Jayanti is observed across the world as the International Day of Non-Violence.

### 6. Until what date will the national sanitation drive run?
The sanitation drive runs until October 31, which coincides with the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

## Inspiration & Lessons
The enduring legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri demonstrate how modesty, conviction, and moral perseverance shape impactful public service.

- **Simplicity and Integrity:** Shastri's life illustrates that great responsibility can be handled with personal humility and transparent ethics. Staying true to core principles is crucial regardless of authority or status.
- **Power of Truth and Non-Violence:** Gandhi demonstrated that steadfast adherence to peaceful methods can bring about profound societal transformation. Moral courage often proves more resilient than physical force.
- **Active Civic Participation:** Meaningful nation-building relies on everyday civic responsibility and community service, including routine efforts to maintain neighborhood hygiene and public spaces.

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